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The Americas will have two representatives among the referees at the Rio Olympics in August. Canada’s Rose LaBrèche and Federico Anselmi of Argentina have been chosen by World Rugby to officiate the prestigious event. The pair are among 23 selected across two separate panels, with a dozen each named to facilitate the men’s and women’s sevens competitions. South Africa’s Rasta Rasivhenge is the only referee named to both groups.
LaBrèche first appeared on the HSBC Sevens Series last season and has been a regular since after being added to World Rugby’s senior panel in August. The 27-year-old from Ottawa, Ontario, was named the Canadian province’s Match Official of the Year for 2015 after making her senior test debut in the USA’s match against New Zealand during the Women’s Rugby Super Series. In March she refereed a Six Nations game for the first time, taking charge as Wales hosted France in Neath.
Anselmi, 33, is a veteran of the sevens circuit, making his debut in 2009. ‘Boli’ is now Argentina’s senior referee with seven test matches under his belt. The Mendoza native was named an assistant for the World Cup and Six Nations tournaments, and promoted to the senior match official panel for the 2016 Super Rugby season. In June he will referee his 8th test when Canada host Japan in Vancouver.
WOMEN’S OLYMPIC PANEL
Aimee Barrett (SARU), Jess Beard (NZRU), Beatrice Benvenuti (FIR), James Bolabiu (FRU), Sara Cox (RFU), Sakurako Kawasaki (JRFU), Rose LaBrèche (RC), Gabriel Lee (HKRFU), Alhambra Nievas (FER), Amy Perrett (ARU), Alex Pratt (SRU), Rasta Rasivhenge (SARU)
MEN’S OLYMPIC PANEL
Mike Adamson (SRU), Federico Anselmi (UAR), Nick Briant (NZRU), Ben Crouse (SARU), Craig Joubert (SARU), Richard Kelly (NZRU), Anthony Moyes (ARU), Matt O’Brien (ARU), Taku Otsuki (JRFU), Rasta Rasivhenge (SARU), Alex Ruiz (FFR), Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
